A snapshot of life for young people in Scotland today
The largest survey of Scottish young people has revealed a remarkable snapshot of the nation's views.
Nearly 3000 young Scots were questioned on a whole range of issues for Youthlink, the national youth work agency, primarily in a bid to inform policy-makers.
More than one-half believe they enjoy a healthy lifestyle but many are unhappy with their figures.
Most are prouder of their country than ever before but fully one-third would leave if they could. The vast majority are upbeat about their nation and their future but worried, increasingly, about immigration, crime and the environment.
Pollsters MRUK found attitudes among the young mirrored major changes in society. And nowhere more than in their views on nationhood and immigration.
Jim Sweeney, Youthlink's chief executive, said: "Over the past two years we have seen a phenomenally large rise in immigration, particularly economic migration through the European Union.
"What was interesting was that young people are noticing it."
Children and young adults in the latest survey are far less accepting of immigration than just two years ago.
Fully 60% of 17-25-year-olds believe there are too many immigrants in Scotland, more than double the share that held the same view two years ago.
Even a substantial minority schoolchildren, most of whom believe more should be done to help foreigners settle in the country, believe there are too many immigrants.
Mr Sweeney said: "Now that we have the figures we need to dig deeper and get a clearer understanding of why young people feel this way."
Scots youngsters may not have too much sympathy for immigrations - but many are keen to live abroad themselves. Eighteen per cent of 11-16-year-olds and 33% of 17-25-year-olds would quit Scotland if they had the chance.
Yet fully 70% of school-age youngsters said they were proud to be Scottish. The figure was even higher for 17-25-year-olds, at 73%, up 17 points from the last time the question was asked, in 2005.
Yet there remains a substantial minority of young Scots who would quit their homeland if they could.
Young people may be worried by immigration, but they are equally wary of adults.
Few young people trust grown-ups, other than their own parents. Only a third of school pupils trust their parents. Only a third of young adults trust and respect doctors.
Indeed, the trustworthiness of key professions has plunged in young eyes, including teachers, police officers, lawyers and the clergy. Just 3% of young people trust politicians. The figure falls to 2% for the press.
Kathleen Marshall, Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People, said the findings mirrored growing wariness among adults about working with children or young people.
She said: "Contact with young people today is seen as both dangerous and consequence-ridden."
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Posted by: Andy, Ayrshire on 5:04am Mon 17 Dec 07
What a sad sick country/world this has become when children don't trust adults and adults are frightened to be associated or work with children.
What a sad sick country/world this has become when children don't trust adults and adults are frightened to be associated or work with children.
Posted by: jonny bond, glasgow on 5:37am Mon 17 Dec 07
Thats what happens when you dont deal with peado's effectively andy. However its preferable to living in china where they make no pretensions to freedom of the press. So long as you are not forced to believe that priests are men of god because of the robes they wear thats what caused the runaway peado effect.
Thats what happens when you dont deal with peado's effectively andy. However its preferable to living in china where they make no pretensions to freedom of the press. So long as you are not forced to believe that priests are men of god because of the robes they wear thats what caused the runaway peado effect.
Posted by: Graham on 6:06am Mon 17 Dec 07
These kids should be thrashed senseless. How dare they think there are too many immigrants, something only those in power, PC mobs and business disagree with.
These kids should be thrashed senseless. How dare they think there are too many immigrants, something only those in power, PC mobs and business disagree with.
Posted by: Mike, Real World on 8:17am Mon 17 Dec 07
[quote][bold]jonny bond[/bold] wrote:
Thats what happens when you dont deal with peado's effectively andy. However its preferable to living in china where they make no pretensions to freedom of the press. So long as you are not forced to believe that priests are men of god because of the robes they wear thats what caused the runaway peado effect.[/quote] No this is what happens when people like you make stupid comments like above and don't know the difference between "peado's" and sex offenders.
Young people mirror what they see and hear going on around them.
Jim Sweeney talks sense when he states "....... we need to dig deeper and get a clearer understanding of why young people feel this way."
jonny bond wrote:
Thats what happens when you dont deal with peado's effectively andy. However its preferable to living in china where they make no pretensions to freedom of the press. So long as you are not forced to believe that priests are men of god because of the robes they wear thats what caused the runaway peado effect.
No this is what happens when people like you make stupid comments like above and don't know the difference between "peado's" and sex offenders.
Young people mirror what they see and hear going on around them.
Jim Sweeney talks sense when he states "....... we need to dig deeper and get a clearer understanding of why young people feel this way."
Posted by: Brad, Glasgow on 10:35am Mon 17 Dec 07
Agreed, Mike. There aren't pervs lucking behind every corner, as the (some parts of the) press would have us believe. Maybe the kids trust the press too much!
Agreed, Mike. There aren't pervs lucking behind every corner, as the (some parts of the) press would have us believe. Maybe the kids trust the press too much!
Posted by: TheGlaswegian, Edinburgh on 12:42pm Mon 17 Dec 07
"Indeed, the trustworthiness of key professions has plunged in young eyes, including teachers, police officers, lawyers and the clergy. Just 3% of young people trust politicians. The figure falls to 2% for the press"
Does this not mean our youngesters are becoming more switched on to real life and are better able to evaluate risk?
"Indeed, the trustworthiness of key professions has plunged in young eyes, including teachers, police officers, lawyers and the clergy. Just 3% of young people trust politicians. The figure falls to 2% for the press"
Does this not mean our youngesters are becoming more switched on to real life and are better able to evaluate risk?
Posted by: Sherlock Holmes on 1:55pm Mon 17 Dec 07
[quote]Mr Sweeney said: "Now that we have the figures we need to dig deeper and get a clearer understanding of why young people feel this way."[/quote]
I think the proof is in the pudding... there are a lot of immigrants and the young people say they don't like that... I would therefore deduce the cause as... too much immigration.
Holmes, how do you do it!
Mr Sweeney said: "Now that we have the figures we need to dig deeper and get a clearer understanding of why young people feel this way."
I think the proof is in the pudding... there are a lot of immigrants and the young people say they don't like that... I would therefore deduce the cause as... too much immigration.
Holmes, how do you do it!
Posted by: Duncan Malcolm, Ayrshire on 2:20pm Mon 17 Dec 07
Good to see that many young people are taking an interest in what is happening around them and have not being conned by the PC brigade who rule this country.
Their views on the politicians, lawyers and the press are, I suspect, generally shared by their elders - add double glazing and used car salemen and you have nearly the whole team.
Pity that the police are being tarred with the same brush, but I suspect that their PC actions are resented by the young as much as they are resented by the rest of us.
As for their views on immigrants, this last few months I have seen more and more immigrants on the street selling the big issue and in some cases, just begging - why are they allowed to stay here?
My only hope is that the young are sensible enough to realise that we need to bring in those with the skills we need. Provided they are are prepared to work and live by the laws of this country, they and their families should be welcomed with open arms - but those who we don't need, and in the case of those with criminal records, who we definitely don't want, should be sent packing - pity we can't send all our own criminals and the PC brigade with them..
Good to see that many young people are taking an interest in what is happening around them and have not being conned by the PC brigade who rule this country.
Their views on the politicians, lawyers and the press are, I suspect, generally shared by their elders - add double glazing and used car salemen and you have nearly the whole team.
Pity that the police are being tarred with the same brush, but I suspect that their PC actions are resented by the young as much as they are resented by the rest of us.
As for their views on immigrants, this last few months I have seen more and more immigrants on the street selling the big issue and in some cases, just begging - why are they allowed to stay here?
My only hope is that the young are sensible enough to realise that we need to bring in those with the skills we need. Provided they are are prepared to work and live by the laws of this country, they and their families should be welcomed with open arms - but those who we don't need, and in the case of those with criminal records, who we definitely don't want, should be sent packing - pity we can't send all our own criminals and the PC brigade with them..
Posted by: brian, glasgow on 3:33pm Mon 17 Dec 07
[quote][bold]Duncan Malcolm[/bold] wrote:
Good to see that many young people are taking an interest in what is happening around them and have not being conned by the PC brigade who rule this country. Their views on the politicians, lawyers and the press are, I suspect, generally shared by their elders - add double glazing and used car salemen and you have nearly the whole team. Pity that the police are being tarred with the same brush, but I suspect that their PC actions are resented by the young as much as they are resented by the rest of us. As for their views on immigrants, this last few months I have seen more and more immigrants on the street selling the big issue and in some cases, just begging - why are they allowed to stay here? My only hope is that the young are sensible enough to realise that we need to bring in those with the skills we need. Provided they are are prepared to work and live by the laws of this country, they and their families should be welcomed with open arms - but those who we don't need, and in the case of those with criminal records, who we definitely don't want, should be sent packing - pity we can't send all our own criminals and the PC brigade with them..[/quote] Well said. I think the the Press and the politicians should take note, especially the former. When will they decide they need to raise their game, when their rating goes down to 1% or even zero? Most people I think have enough common sense to read through the spin, so why not print articles minus the spin? The politicians could then follow their lead. Is this too sensible?
Duncan Malcolm wrote:
Good to see that many young people are taking an interest in what is happening around them and have not being conned by the PC brigade who rule this country. Their views on the politicians, lawyers and the press are, I suspect, generally shared by their elders - add double glazing and used car salemen and you have nearly the whole team. Pity that the police are being tarred with the same brush, but I suspect that their PC actions are resented by the young as much as they are resented by the rest of us. As for their views on immigrants, this last few months I have seen more and more immigrants on the street selling the big issue and in some cases, just begging - why are they allowed to stay here? My only hope is that the young are sensible enough to realise that we need to bring in those with the skills we need. Provided they are are prepared to work and live by the laws of this country, they and their families should be welcomed with open arms - but those who we don't need, and in the case of those with criminal records, who we definitely don't want, should be sent packing - pity we can't send all our own criminals and the PC brigade with them..
Well said. I think the the Press and the politicians should take note, especially the former. When will they decide they need to raise their game, when their rating goes down to 1% or even zero? Most people I think have enough common sense to read through the spin, so why not print articles minus the spin? The politicians could then follow their lead. Is this too sensible?
Posted by: fifer on 4:19pm Mon 17 Dec 07
jonny most sexual assaults are carried out by family members.
perhaps the real reason for lack of trust is too many scare stories in comics like the Sun and Daily Star etc. Problem is most get their ideas from these rags
jonny most sexual assaults are carried out by family members.
perhaps the real reason for lack of trust is too many scare stories in comics like the Sun and Daily Star etc. Problem is most get their ideas from these rags
Posted by: Exiled Aussie, Banff on 8:12pm Mon 17 Dec 07
[quote][bold]Graham[/bold] wrote:
These kids should be thrashed senseless. How dare they think there are too many immigrants, something only those in power, PC mobs and business disagree with.[/quote] No connectiion between opposition to immigrants and upsurge of nationalism ?
Graham wrote:
These kids should be thrashed senseless. How dare they think there are too many immigrants, something only those in power, PC mobs and business disagree with.
No connectiion between opposition to immigrants and upsurge of nationalism ?
Posted by: WakeUp, Oxford on 8:11pm Sat 29 Dec 07
It's absolutely disgusting. Foreigners are flocking to Britain because they know that when they get here it was worth their while. They get PUT BEFORE BRITISH TAXPAYERS IN THE WAITING LIST FOR HOUSING, in addition to a whole host of tax-generated benefits. When they do get a job, IMMIGRANTS SEND THE MONEY BACK TO THEIR OWN COUNTRY - and they rarely stay for more than a couple of years so UNSETTLE COMMUNITIES MASSIVELY. The result of all this largely unwanted immigration will be that BRITISH PEOPLE WILL BE AN ETHNIC MINORITY IN BRITAIN BY 2030. This is why, on top of the threat of losing my job to an "economic" migrant I am voting for the BNP. [bold]I'm sick of feeling like a second-class citizen in my own country.[/bold]
It's absolutely disgusting. Foreigners are flocking to Britain because they know that when they get here it was worth their while. They get PUT BEFORE BRITISH TAXPAYERS IN THE WAITING LIST FOR HOUSING, in addition to a whole host of tax-generated benefits. When they do get a job, IMMIGRANTS SEND THE MONEY BACK TO THEIR OWN COUNTRY - and they rarely stay for more than a couple of years so UNSETTLE COMMUNITIES MASSIVELY. The result of all this largely unwanted immigration will be that BRITISH PEOPLE WILL BE AN ETHNIC MINORITY IN BRITAIN BY 2030. This is why, on top of the threat of losing my job to an "economic" migrant I am voting for the BNP.
I'm sick of feeling like a second-class citizen in my own country. Posted by: The Truth, Sheffield on 9:50pm Sun 30 Dec 07
WHY DO PEOPLE THINK THAT FOREIGNERS ARE FLOCKING TO OUR COUNTRY? DISGUISING THEMSELVES IN CARS AND PAYING £10,000 TO BE SMUGGLED INTO THE COUNTRY? IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE A SOFT TOUCH. THEY HAVE A CHOICE OF MANY OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TO "CLAIM ASYLUM" IN. BUT THEY CHOOSE TO COME TO SOFT BRITAIN WHERE THEY GET PUT BEFORE BRITISH PEOPLE IN THE QUEUE FOR A HOUSE AND GET THE FULL RANGE OF BENEFITS - ON US. IT SHOULD WORRY EVERYONE THAT BRITISH PEOPLE WILL BE THE ETHNIC MINORITY IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY IN JUST THIRTY YEARS' TIME AND WE WILL BE LIVING UNDER MUSLIM SHARIA LAW. IS IT ANY WONDER HOUSES HAVE TO BE BUILT ON NOTORIOUS FLOODPLAINS WHEN ALL THESE FOREIGNERS ARE FLOODING IN? OUR POPULATION IS SET TO DOUBLE BY 2080. I'M VOTING FOR THE BNP.
WHY DO PEOPLE THINK THAT FOREIGNERS ARE FLOCKING TO OUR COUNTRY? DISGUISING THEMSELVES IN CARS AND PAYING £10,000 TO BE SMUGGLED INTO THE COUNTRY? IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE A SOFT TOUCH. THEY HAVE A CHOICE OF MANY OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TO "CLAIM ASYLUM" IN. BUT THEY CHOOSE TO COME TO SOFT BRITAIN WHERE THEY GET PUT BEFORE BRITISH PEOPLE IN THE QUEUE FOR A HOUSE AND GET THE FULL RANGE OF BENEFITS - ON US. IT SHOULD WORRY EVERYONE THAT BRITISH PEOPLE WILL BE THE ETHNIC MINORITY IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY IN JUST THIRTY YEARS' TIME AND WE WILL BE LIVING UNDER MUSLIM SHARIA LAW. IS IT ANY WONDER HOUSES HAVE TO BE BUILT ON NOTORIOUS FLOODPLAINS WHEN ALL THESE FOREIGNERS ARE FLOODING IN? OUR POPULATION IS SET TO DOUBLE BY 2080. I'M VOTING FOR THE BNP.
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